John Greenwood music book, circa 1780

John Greenwood music book, ca. 1780

New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, 212-873-3400

1780

Manuscript book of music given to Greenwood by a British fife-major, probably after 1780. According to 'Early American Secular Music and Its European Sources, 15891839: An Index' (http://www.colonialdancing.org/Easmes/Biblio/B018536.htm, viewed August 6, 2012), the music is probably for German flute or violin, and it is a leisure collection for a gentleman and not music for use in the military as some sources suggest. The volume contains 87 numbered leaves. Leaves 18 and 24 are blank, and leaves 76-77 and 82-86 are lacking. Approximately 80 tunes are in the volume as well as biographical and historical notes added to the final leaves in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Fife-major, 15th Massachusetts Regiment; he later became a dentist in New York City. Gift of Mary M. Greenwood and Eliza R. Greenwood, Dec. 7, 1942.

New-York Historical Society

Mss Collection - BV Greenwood, John

Fife music
Flute music
Violin music
Music--United States--18th century
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--British forces
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Songs and music

Musical works
Scores
Music

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